TORONTO – While revenues for Canada’s private broadcasters increased slightly in 2007, they cut their spending on Canadian programming slightly too, pointed out ACTRA, the actors union, in a press release.
The CRTC released its omnibus communications industry report last week which showed revenues for private conventional broadcasters rose 1.3% to $2.2 billion in the 2007 broadcast year (ended August 31, 2007) while spending on Canadian television dropped 1.2% to $616 million. Spending on American programming rose 5% to $722 million.
“The CRTC’s industry report confirms that Canada’s private broadcasters are overspending on U.S. programming while failing to produce homegrown shows in the most popular genre, drama,” reads the ACTRA release.
“We need more Canada on TV, not less,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s national executive director.
“Canadian audiences are still watching TV, and when they do, they’re watching drama more than any other type of show. This CRTC report shows how broadcasters are failing Canadian audiences. Only 8.1% of the shows in the most popular genre on the private networks are Canadian,” said Richard Hardacre, ACTRA national president. “Broadcasters can do more. The success of CTV’s Flashpoint, that started in a challenging summer timeslot, is proof of that.”
“We know the broadcasters will be trying to fix their abysmal record in the coming months, because their licences are up for renewal next year,” said Waddell. “We’ll be at the CRTC too, demanding again that they make Canada’s private broadcasters live up to their Broadcasting Act obligations with great Canadian drama on TV in primetime when audiences are watching.”
“The CRTC must take the opportunity to fix the imbalance. We need CRTC help to halt the annual Hollywood shopping spree by Canadian broadcasters, where they overspend millions of dollars on American shows sight unseen,” said Waddell.
